Terminal device.



W. G. HOUSKEEPER.

TERMINAL DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a1, 1909.

- 1,99,09, Patented June 2, 1914-,

WITNESSES: INVENTOR To all whom it may concern:

pnirnn snares PATENT ormcn.

WILLI EAM (it. HOUSKEEPER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN'OR TO WESTINGHOUSE LAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF YEN'NSYLVANIA.

TERMINAL DEVICE.

wearer.

Specification of letters Patent.

Patented Julie 2, 1914.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM G. Hous- KEEPER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improve ment in Terminal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical terminal devices, and it has for its object to provide a device that is adapted to make electrical contact with continuously or progressively moving conductors, such, for instance, as the filamentous material that is used in the preparation of filaments for incandescent lamps, though it is not limited to such uses.

In another application, Serial No. 486,925, filed .of even date herewith, by another and myself, is set forth a process of, and apparatus for, continuously preparing filaments for incandescent lamps, and, particularly, filaments composed of or containing tungsten. One of the steps in the said process consists in supplying electric current to progressively moving filamentous material at intervals of its length. .In practising the said process, it is extremely important and quite essential that the terminal device, whereby currentis suppliedto moving filamentous material at intervals of its length, should not materially retard the movement thereof and require placing the material under. undue strain in order to efiect its movement. The movement of the conductor should, therefore, be accompanied by very little friction, and the terminal devices must, accordingly, be constructed to avoid it. It is also essential that the terminal devices shall always make such good contact with all lib

the mhving material that no arcs or burning will occurbetween them, in order that the material may not be ruptured; The present device fully meets these requirements and permits successful practising of the above stated process.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a face view of a terminal device constructed rovided with an The member' 1 is preferably composed of copper and its edges are amalgamated in order to increase the degree of adhesion between the member and a body of mercury 4 that substantially fills and extends across the aperture. The body of mercury within the aperture is provided with concave faces, by carefully wiping, or otherwise removing, the excess of mercury from both faces of the member 1, the surface tension of the mercury then serving to force the filament to the center of the aperture in the member 1 and to maintain it out of engagement with the said member. lhe surface tension of the mercury is also sufiicient to maintain it in the aperture even during progressive movement of the conductor, and but a very slight amount of strain need be placed upon the conductor in order to efiect its longitudinal movement, because the friction of the mercury therewith is almost negligible. Moreover, the mercury makes excellent contact with the conductor, and there is no arcing between the conductor and the terminal, with the result that the conductor is never ruptured at or near the terminal device.

While the member 1 is preferably composed of copper, which may be readily amalgamated, it may, if desired, be merely coated or plated with copper, or it maybe composed of other materials that may be amalgamated. Mercury may be replaced, also, by another suitable metal in fluid condition, such as molten tin, in which case the edges of the aperture in the member 1 would preferably be tinned, or it may be replaced by any other conducting fluid.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described comprising an apertured member, and a body of mercury extending across the aperture and attached to its edges.

2. A device of the character described comprising an apertured member and a body of mercury having concave aces extending across the aperture.

3. A device of the character described comprisin an apertured member the portion of w ich surrounding the aperture is amalgamated, and a body of mercury extending across the aperture.

d. A device of the character described comprisin an apertured member the portion of w ich surrounding the aperture is amalgamated, and a body of mercury hav- Q meaeeo ing concave faces extending across the aperture.

5. A device of the character described comprising an apertured member, and a body of metal in fluid condition extending across the aperture and attached to its edges.

6. A device of the character described comprising an apertured member, and a body of metal in fluid condition extending across the aperture and having concave faces.

7. A device of the character described comprising an apertured member and a body of metal in fiuid condition extending across the aperture, the portion of the member surrounding the aperture being coated with a material for which the said body of fluid metal has a considerable degree of attraction.

8. A device of the character described comprising a body of mercury and an amalgamated supporting member having an aperture in which the said body is suspended.

9. A device of the character described comprising a body of li uid metal and a supporting member theretor for which the liquid metal has a positive degree of capillary attraction and having an aperture in which the said body is suspended,

10. A device of the character described comprising a member having amalgamated separated parts and a body of mercury suspended between the said partsi 11. A device of the character described comprising an amalgamated member having an aperture and a body of mercury suspended by its own surface tension from the walls of said aperture.

12. A device for engaging a longitudinally movable filament comprising a body of mercury completely surrounding the filament, and an amalgamated supporting member from which the said body is suspended.

13. A device for engaging a longitudin ally movable filament comprising a liquid conducting body completely surroundin the filament; and a supporting member 0m which the said body is suspended.

14:. A device for engaging a longitudinally movable filament comprising a body of mercury that completely surrounds the filament and a support from which the body of mercury is suspended by its own surface tension.

15. A device for engaging a longitudinally movable filament comprising a 1i uid conductor completely surrounding the 'la ment and means from which said conductor is suspended by its own surface tension,

lln testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this twentieth day of lllarch- 1909.

WWI G HUUSKEEPEPJ,

Witnesses:

1%, J. Kanonnnn, l'LMRRY Do Manhunt 

